Abstract
Integrating a positive youth development framework into sport has become popular, as using sport as a vehicle to facilitate physical and psychosocial skills allows for a potential dually productive environment to exist (Côté et al., 2008). The Nunavik Youth Hockey Development Program (NYHDP) has taken a similar approach to PYD by offering a proactive community-based hockey program for Inuit youth in Nunavik as many problems that youth often encounter are heightened in Inuit communities (Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, 2009; MELS du Québec, 2004). This research examined how the NYHDP impacted the psychosocial development of youth participants. Mixed-methods were used including semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders, participant observation, and quantitative measures including modified versions of the Learning Climate Questionnaire (LCQ) and the Developmental Assets Profile (DAP). Results from the LCQ and DAP were quite high, yet showed minimal change from beginning to end of the program. In the interviews the youth highlighted learning how to work as a team, never giving up, and always doing one’s best. Additionally, transfer of such life skills were observed as the program intentionally provides a variety of opportunities in which the youth can transfer the learned skills. Overall, the NYHDP was seen to be having a positive impact on the region of Nunavik. This study served as the first formal evaluation of the NYHDP and aids in understanding what impact the program has on youth participants and the Nunavik region as a whole.
